Friend of China
Sir: Harry Phibbs (`Friendship in adversi- ty', 5 May) drew attention to the ideologic- al difficulties faced by various obscure organisations which supported the regimes in Eastern Europe, but what of those lobbies within Parliament which support unrepentant tyrannies? By this I mean the British-Chinese Parliamentary Group and its chairman Robert Adley, Conservative MP for Christchurch. Mr Adley, a long- time 'Friend of China', has made many curious statements about Hong Kong; but the events in Peking last June have caused him to change his emphasis. In the case of Tibet, however, he has faithfully followed their line, and remained in the Chinese government's favour.
He opposed the Dalai Lama's visit to Britain in 1988 on the grounds that, 'It is not for Britain to provide a platform for overseas politicians to conduct their inter-
nal political campaigns . . In 1985 he congratulated Mrs Thatcher on her `courageous but correct decision' to invite two members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation to London. He has also spoken of the 'legitimate rights of the indigenous population in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Palestine'. How do these differ from the 'legitimate rights' of the Tibetans?
Adrian Moon
Edington House, Bridgwater, Somerset
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